I wanted to shove him. Wanted to grab him by his stiff shoulders and scream with the same agony and intensity as his demons. Instead, I said fiercely, “You have a responsibility to make things right. If you’re truly as miserable as you say, then change your fate. If you can manage that, then maybe you’ll be able to change mine, too.”
“Perhaps Noctis can be salvaged, but I don’t know where to begin.” He crossed his arms, mouth tightening. “My power once called to the dark, and dark things were drawn to it—drawn tome. I once thought I could contain all the demons here while I waited for an absolution that never came.”
The Shadow Bringer harbored demons within the walls of his castle prison toprotecthumanity? The tales never suggested as much. Still, the barest hints of truth were there, waiting for me to take notice.
“But you didn’t fully contain all the demons.”
“No,” he agreed. “And perhaps they never were fully contained, if what you’re telling me is the truth. The demons in my domain aren’t Corrupting anyone; they’re as trapped as I am.”
“Which leaves those roaming the Dream Realm to their own devices.”
Grrrrssschk. Rrrssschk. Rrrssschk.
We turned at the same time. A demon leered at us through the broken doorway, its shoulders so wide that it had to adjust itself to fit. It lunged for me, moving quicker than what should have been possible, its grin wide and hair-covered arms outstretched. Surprisingly, the Shadow Bringer threw himself in front of me, shadows up in defense, but he was either too distracted or too slow.
The force behind the blow was staggering, slamming the Shadow Bringer into the fireplace with a sickening crunch. He snapped to his feet, but the demon was faster. It grabbed the discarded fire poker, raising it to his exposed throat.
“Set… me… free,” the demon rasped. “Five hundred… years.”
For a moment, the Shadow Bringer’s eyes widened, but he quicklyshook his head, clearing whatever thought had just passed. He brought his hands to his throat, shielding it from the spike. “The curse has no end, demon. Put the spike down before I impale you with it.”
“Five hundred… years,” it repeated. “He… is… coming.”
“You’re delusional and broken, just like the others,” the Shadow Bringer said sadly. “Pitiful.”
And then he grabbed the fire poker, spun it around, and shoved it between the demon’s eyes. It lurched back, poker protruding from its forehead, and lunged for me again. I spun to avoid it, diving for a half-open curtain at the far end of the Bringer’s room.
A balcony.
Curse it all.
Lit by a dusting of stars, the balcony looked straight out of the pages of a storybook—perfect for romance or reminiscing, but not for outrunning demons. The ledge was too far away from the forest that sprawled beneath it.
“Let meout,” the demon snarled. It tried to pull the fire poker from its skull, but it only managed to snap it. It wielded the broken piece like a dagger, poised and ready to strike me down. “You can free me.”
My back slammed into the balustrade. The creature had cornered me into a place it knew I couldn’t escape from. I willed the Shadow Bringer’s shadows to race down my arms, covering them in thick, writhing darkness.
When the demon took its next step, poker raised to strike, I sent the shadows flying. They became swords, lances, pitchforks—and assailed the demon, sending it reeling into the Shadow Bringer, who had followed us to the balcony. They crashed into the other side of the railing, assaulted by shadows both knife sharp and corporeal. The demon took the worst of it, moaning from its injuries, but the Bringer was halfway off the ledge, cape pinned by spikes and blades. The part of his body off the ledge—his right arm, shoulder, and head—began to smoke, burned by an invisible force.
I had never heard the Shadow Bringer scream, but he did now,writhing in torment. His gauntlet sunk into his right arm, melding with the skin underneath, and his moon-white hair began to smolder under his helm, just as his skin blistered and peeled. He tried to push the shadows away, but they wouldn’t listen, wouldn’t bend to his will. Whatever force was burning him was also keeping him from using his abilities.
And he was dying.
I didn’t know what death meant in the Realm, but something told me the Shadow Bringer might not wake from this. And if he died—and the demonsdidn’tdie—what then? I’d have to face the demons alone. Perhaps they’d riot, overwhelm me, and escape, plaguing Noctis with a rush of Corruption.
He broke free from the shadows at the last moment; the force of it sent the demon plummeting off the ledge.
The Shadow Bringer crumpled. He sat perfectly still, eyes closed, leaning his half-melted body against the balustrade. His skin had already begun to heal, resetting back to its original state, but it wasn’t quite restored.
“I’m tired, Esmer. I’m tired of living like this.”
I froze where I stood. “I—”
“Do you see now? They accuse me of Corruption, but there are no captured souls here beyond my own. There are only demons, pulled here by my wretched power, and darkness. Nothing but rot and my ruined soul on display.” His eyes fluttered open briefly before closing again.
“How can you expect me to believe you?” I asked in shock, tears springing to my eyes. He looked absolutelywretched. I’d never seen a person in such a state of decay. “What you’re saying goes against everything I’ve been taught. It’s a path I’ve walked my entire life.”
“Then let me convince you otherwise,” he rasped. “Help me find my freedom and purpose, and I will return the favor a hundredfold.”
